What You'll Learn
- The precise mechanics of the plié to rond de jambe en l'air transition.
- Techniques to stabilize the hips and maintain turnout during dynamic movements.
- How to isolate the knee joint for more efficient and cleaner leg rotations.
- Specific drills to build the coordination and strength required for fouetté turns.
About This Video
Building a powerful fouetté turn begins long before you move to the center of the studio. In this focused 5-minute class from Broche Ballet, we dive deep into the essential barre exercises that create the foundational strength and coordination needed for successful turns. The fouetté is a complex movement that requires a precise blend of timing, stability, and muscular engagement. By breaking down these movements at the barre, you can isolate the specific muscle groups required to maintain control and momentum during your turns.
We start by focusing on the transition from a deep plié to a sharp rond de jambe en l'air. One of the most common challenges in fouetté preparation is hip stability. As you move into the plié, it is vital to keep your hip forward and pressing upward rather than allowing it to swing back or rotate out of alignment. This 'quiet hip' provides the necessary platform for the working leg to move independently.
During the rond de jambe en l'air, the focus shifts to the knee joint. For a clean fouetté, the thigh should remain virtually motionless while the lower leg executes the circular movement. This isolation ensures that the rotation is smooth and controlled. Maintaining turnout throughout the back and side positions is equally important; this class emphasizes keeping the leg rotated in the hip socket without sacrificing the alignment of the torso or the standing leg.
Finally, we practice the specific sequence of movements: integrating the plié, retiré, and the extension of the leg. This drill—moving from plié front to an open side position and back in—prepares the body for the rhythmic nature of the turn. Whether you are adding this session to the end of a full barre or using it as a targeted strengthening drill, these exercises will help you develop the muscle memory needed to execute fouetté turns with grace and power.
